Apparatus for supporting and displaying construction sheet material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supporting and displaying construction sheet material. The apparatus includes a base having first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas having distal and proximal end portions respectively. The first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas are configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material. The apparatus further includes a front upright support connected to the base to extend rearwardly at an angle to the base. The front upright support has third and fourth parallel spaced apart lower front support areas adjacent the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas. The front upright support also includes an upper front support having first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas having distal and proximal end portions respectively. The first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas are configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material. The front upright support further includes third and fourth parallel spaced apart upper front support areas adjacent the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas. The distal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas are aligned with or behind the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to supporting and displaying construction sheet material and more particularly to an apparatus for supporting and displaying construction sheet material.

2. Description of Related Art

Sheets of construction sheet material are commonly stored and displayed on racks such that sheets are oriented on edge and thus can be displayed and stored in, loaded on, and removed from a stack without being damaged such as by their own weight and such that the floor area that the sheets occupy is minimized. Such racks commonly include a support for supporting the sheets from below and a structure against which the sheets can lean. Loading and unloading of the sheets from these racks is commonly done using a crane or other lifting device via an attachment to the sheets from above.

When sheets of construction material are stacked on these racks, however, only the outermost sheet in each stack is displayed and can be unloaded from the rack. Adding additional upper stacks of sheets above lower stacks allows more than one sheet of construction material to be displayed simultaneously without increasing the floor area that the material occupies; however the increased height of the rack causes instability and can limit access to sheets on the lower stacks. The present invention addresses these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for supporting and displaying construction sheet material. The apparatus includes a base having first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas having distal and proximal end portions respectively. The first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas are configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material. The apparatus further includes a front upright support connected to the base to extend rearwardly at an angle to the base. The front upright support has third and fourth parallel spaced apart lower front support areas adjacent the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas. The front upright support also includes an upper front support having first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas having distal and proximal end portions respectively. The first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas are configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material. The front upright support further includes third and fourth parallel spaced apart upper front support areas adjacent the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas. The distal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas are aligned with or behind the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas.

The distal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas may be vertically aligned with or behind the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas.

The first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas may be generally parallel to the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas.

The apparatus may further include first and second lower front cushions on the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas respectively.

The first and second lower front cushions may include first and second lower front wood members respectively.

The base may comprise first and second lower front elongated parallel spaced apart channel members, each having respective parallel spaced apart sidewalls and a web extending between the sidewalls defining respective channels. The first and second lower front cushions may be in corresponding ones of the respective channels and may have portions extending out of the respective channels to prevent construction sheet material placed on the cushions from touching the sidewalls of the respective channels.

The apparatus may further include first and second upper front cushions on the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas respectively.

The first and second upper front cushions may include first and second upper front wood members respectively.

The upper front support may comprise first and second upper front elongated parallel spaced apart channel members, each having respective parallel spaced apart sidewalls and a web extending between the sidewalls defining respective channels. The third and fourth upper front cushions may be in corresponding ones of the respective channels and may have portions extending out of the respective channels to prevent construction sheet material placed on the cushions from touching the sidewalls of the respective channels.

The base may further include first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas that have distal and proximal end portions respectively. The first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas may be configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material.

The apparatus may further include a rear upright support connected to the base to extend frontwardly at an angle to the base. The rear upright support may have third and fourth parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas adjacent the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas. The apparatus may also include an upper rear support having first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas that have distal and proximal end portions respectively. The first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas may be configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material. The rear upright support further includes third and fourth parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas adjacent the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas. The distal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas aligned with or in front of the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas.

The front and rear upright supports have upper ends connected together to form a vertex.

The distal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas may be vertically aligned with or in front of the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas.

The first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas may be generally parallel to the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas.

The apparatus may further include first and second lower rear cushions on the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas respectively.

The first and second lower rear cushions may include first and second lower rear wood members respectively.

The base may comprise first and second lower rear elongated parallel spaced apart channel members. Each may have respective parallel spaced apart sidewalls and a web extending between the sidewalls defining respective channels. The first and second lower rear cushions may be in corresponding ones of the respective channels and may have portions extending out of the respective channels to prevent sheet material placed on the cushions from touching the sidewalls of the respective channels.

The apparatus may further include first and second upper rear cushions on the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas respectively.

The first and second upper rear cushions may include first and second upper rear wood members respectively.

The upper rear support may comprise first and second upper rear elongated parallel spaced apart channel members, each having respective parallel spaced apart sidewalls and a web extending between the sidewalls defining respective channels. The first and second upper rear cushions may be in corresponding ones of the respective channels and may have portions extending out of the respective channels to prevent construction sheet material placed on the cushions from touching the sidewalls of the respective channels.

The base may comprise first and second parallel spaced apart elongated base members.

The front and rear upright supports may comprise first and second spaced apart A-frame structures connected to the first and second parallel spaced apart elongated base members respectively. The apparatus may further include at least one cross member connecting the first and second spaced apart A-frame structures together.

The base may comprise first and second elongated parallel members.

The first and second elongated parallel members may include first and second lengths of metal channel respectively.

The upper front support may comprise third and fourth elongated parallel members.

The third and fourth elongated parallel members may include third and fourth lengths of metal channel respectively.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side-view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an oblique view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown with construction sheet material being supported thereby;

FIG. 4 is a side-view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded oblique, fragmented, detailed view of a base member of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded oblique, fragmented detailed view of an upper support of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an oblique view of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side-view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 in use;

FIG. 9 is an oblique view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 an apparatus for supporting and displaying construction sheet material according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. In the embodiments shown, the apparatus 10 comprises a base shown generally at 12 having first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas shown generally at 14 and 16 respectively. Each of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16 has a respective distal end portion 18 and 20 and a respective proximal end portion 22 and 24. The first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16 are configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material as will be described in further detail below.

The apparatus 10 further includes a front upright support shown generally at 30 connected to the base 12 to extend rearwardly at an angle 32 to the base. In this embodiment the front upright support 30 has third and fourth parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 34 and 36 adjacent the proximal end portions 22 and 24 respectively of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16 of the base 12.

The front upright support 30 further includes an upper front support shown generally at 38 having first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas shown generally at 40 and 42 respectively. The first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42 have distal end portions 44 and 46 respectively and proximal end portions 48 and 50 respectively. The first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42 are configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material as will be further described below.

The front upright support 30 further includes third and fourth parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 52 and 54 adjacent the respective proximal end portions 48 and 50 of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42.

Referring to FIG. 2, the distal end portion 44 of the first upper front support area 40 is aligned with or behind the proximal end portion 22 of the first lower front support area 14. More particularly, as can be seen in FIG. 2, an outer extremity 60 of the distal end portion 44 of the first upper front support area may be considered to lie in a plane 62 that intersects a first forward point of contact 64 of the third lower front support area 34 and the first lower front support area 14. It is desirable that the first forward point of contact 64 lie in the plane 62 or in front of the plane 62 coincident with the outer extremity 60 of the distal end portion 44.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that the second upper front support area 42 also has an outer extremity 66 which is coplanar with the plane 62 and intersects a second forward point of contact 68 between the fourth lower front support area 36 and the second lower front support area 16 which is also in the plane 62. In the embodiments shown the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42 are dimensioned to have a length such that the plane 62 containing the outer extremities 60 and 66 and the first and second forward points of contact 64 and 68 is vertically oriented. Thus in the embodiments shown, the distal end portions 44 and 46 of the first and second parallel spaced upper front support areas 40 and 42 are vertically aligned with or behind the proximal end portions 22 and 24 of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16.

Also in the embodiments shown, the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16 are generally parallel to the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42.

Above it was stated that the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16 are configured to support at least one sheet of construction material and it was said that the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42 are configured to support at least one sheet of construction material. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, by configured, it is meant that a first sheet of construction material 160 may rest on the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16 and a second sheet of construction material 162 can simultaneously or alternatively rest on the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42 without being damaged. To facilitate this configuration, in the embodiments shown, for example the apparatus 10 is used to support and display construction sheet material comprising sheets of granite and thus the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16 include first and second lower front cushions 70 and 72 respectively. In this embodiment the first and second lower front cushions 70 and 72 are formed from first and second lower front wood members respectively.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, to facilitate holding the first and second lower front cushions, the base 12 and more particularly the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16 are comprised of first and second elongated parallel spaced apart base channel members 74 and 76 respectively. The channel members are comprised of 4 inch channel steel having a wall thickness of ¼ inch. Each channel member has first and second spaced apart sidewalls 80 and 82 and a web 84 extending between the first and second spaced apart sidewalls defining respective channels 86. The first and second lower front cushions 70 and 72 are received snugly within the respective channels 86. The first and second lower front cushions 70 and 72 for example may each be cut from a block of 2×4 dimension lumber. As seen in FIG. 1, the first and second spaced apart sidewalls 80 and 82 have a height less than a thickness of the first and second lower front cushions 70 and 72 such that respective portions 90 and 91 of the first and second lower front cushions, extend out of the respective channels. This prevents construction sheet material (in this case granite) placed on the first and second lower front cushions 70 and 72 from touching the first and second spaced apart sidewalls 80 and 82 of the respective channels.

It will be appreciated that the front upright support 30 is comprised of first and second front elongated upright channel members 120 and 122 respectively also formed of 4 inch steel channel. Thus, the third and fourth parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 34 and 36 are comprised of channels 124 and 126 into which may similarly be placed cushions formed of wood blocks (not shown) in a manner similar to that shown and described in connection with the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16. In addition, the third and fourth parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 52 and 54 include channel portions 128 and 130 respectively into which may be placed additional cushions (not shown) similar to those described above.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the first upper front support area 40 is shown in greater detail. The first upper front support area 40 is comprised of a first support member 500 a second support member 502 and a stopper member 504. The first support member 500 has proximal and distal end portions 520 and 522, and is comprised of a length of channel steel 506 including first and second sidewalls 508 and 510 and a web 512 extending therebetween to form a channel 514 between the first and second sidewalls 508 and 510. A cushion 516 is received in the channel 514. The first and second sidewalls 508 and 510 and the web 512 have an end face 518 on the distal end portion 522. The stopper member 504 which, in this embodiment, is an elongated steel plate is connected to the end face 518 such that the channel 514 is sealed off at an end portion thereof by the stopper.

At the proximal end portion 520, the first and second sidewalls 508 and 510 are cut at an angle to have angled surfaces 530 and 532 respectively and such that a tongue portion 534 is formed by part of the web 512 extending past the angled surfaces of the first and second sidewalls. The tongue portion 534 has a length matching a depth of the first front elongated upright channel member 120 such that a rear surface 536 of the tongue portion contacts a surface 538 of the web of the first front elongated upright channel member and such that the tongue portion extends between sidewalls 540 and 542 of the first front elongated upright channel member. The angled surfaces 530 and 532 contact respective edges 544 and 546 of the sidewalls 540 and 542 of the first front elongated upright channel member 120 and are welded thereto. The tongue portion 534 is also welded to the surface 538 of the web of the first front elongated upright channel member 120. The first support member 500 is oriented relative to the first front elongated upright channel member 120 such that the first support member is generally horizontal when the apparatus 10 is in use.

To help support heavy loads such as granite sheets, the first upper front support area 40 is provided with the second support member 502. The second support member 502 is also formed of a length of steel channel having an angled end face 550, a tongue portion 552 and angled wall portions 554 and 556. The angled end face 550 is disposed at an opposite end of the second support member 502 from the tongue portion 552 and the adjacent angled wall portions 554 and 556. In this embodiment the tongue portion 552 and the angled wall portions 554 and 556 are dimensioned such that the tongue portion is received between the sidewalls 540 and 542 of the first front elongated upright channel member 120 to contact the surface 538 of the web thereof and such that the angled wall portions 554 and 556 contact the respective edges 544 and 546 of the first front elongated upright channel member 120 when the angled end face 550 is disposed in the horizontal plane, in contact with a back surface 560 of the web 512 of the first support member 500. The angled end face 550 of the second support member 502 is welded to the back surface 560 of the first support member 500 and the tongue portion 552 and the angled wall portions 554 and 556 are welded to the surface 538 of the web and the respective edges 544 and 546 of the first front elongated upright channel member 120 respectively.

The cushion 516, which in this embodiment is comprised of a first upper front wood member, is thus held captive between the stopper member 504 and the surface 538 of the web of the first front elongated upright channel member 120. The cushion 516 is dimensioned such that a portion 558 thereof extends out of the channel 514 past first and second upper edges 562 and 564 of the first and second sidewalls 508 and 510 to prevent construction sheet material placed on the cushion from touching the first and second sidewalls of the channel.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the second upper front support area 42 is constructed in the same manner as the first upper front support area 40.

In the embodiment shown, the first and second front elongated upright channel members 120 and 122 are connected together by first and second crossbraces 140 and 142 which may be held in place by bolts, rivets or welding, for example.

Also in this embodiment, it is contemplated that the apparatus would lean against a vertical surface such as a wall 150 such that respective upper contact points 152 and 154 of the first and second front elongated upright channel members 120 and 122 contact the wall while the base 12 rests on a floor 156 adjacent the wall but spaced apart therefrom due to the angle 32 of the base relative to the first and second front elongated upright channel members 120 and 122 of the front upright support 30. Wall spacers, one of which is shown at 158, may be secured behind the first and second front elongated upright channel members 120 and 122 to secure the apparatus in spaced apart relation to the wall 150 especially when construction sheet material is being loaded onto and removed from the apparatus 10.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in use, the first and second sheets of construction material 160 and 162, which in this embodiment are sheets of granite, may be placed on the lower front support areas 14 and 16 and on the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42 respectively to support such sheets for storage purposes and also to permit sheets to be displayed, for example, adjacent each other in vertical space to permit two sheets to be simultaneously viewed and compared. This is particularly important when selecting sheets of granite, for example to allow users to select natural patterns that are visually compatible with each other.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, it will be appreciated that every piece of construction sheet material placed on the lower front support areas 14 and 16 is effectively positioned in front of any sheets of construction material placed on the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42 which thereby reduces any tendency of the apparatus 10 to tip forward. Even if all sheets are removed from the lower front support areas 14 and 16, and the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42 are fully loaded with a plurality of sheets of construction material, the apparatus 10 has little or no tendency to tip forward since a moment due to the weight of the plurality of sheets of construction material, about the first and second forward points of contact 64 and 68, is behind the plane 62 tending to cause the apparatus to be pressed against the wall 150.

In addition, because every sheet of construction sheet material placed on the lower front support areas 14 and 16 is effectively positioned in front of any sheets of construction material placed on the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas 40 and 42, the sheets of construction material on the lower front support areas can be easily accessed and manipulated with a crane, or other similar lifting device, that requires vertical access to its payload, without inducing tipping of the apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 7 an apparatus for supporting and displaying construction sheet material, according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 200. The apparatus 200 includes the entire apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 with the exception of a modification to the base 12.

In this embodiment, the base includes first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas 202 and 204 each having distal and proximal end portions respectively. Only proximal end portion 206 is shown in connection with the first lower rear support area 202 and distal and proximal end portions of the second lower rear support area 204 are shown at 208 and 210 respectively. The first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas 202 and 204 are configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment described above.

In this embodiment, the base 12 is comprised of first and second elongated base channel members 212 and 214 each having respective front and rear portions 216 and 218 and an intermediate portion 220 disposed between the front and rear portions 216 and 218. The first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16 are on the respective front portions 216 and the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas 202 and 204 are on respective rear portions 218. The rear portions 218 are fitted with first and second lower rear cushions 222 and 224 respectively in a manner similar to the first and second lower front cushions 70 and 72 on the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas 14 and 16.

In this embodiment, the apparatus 200 further includes a rear upright support 230 comprised of first and second parallel spaced apart rear elongated upright channel members 232 and 234. The first and second parallel spaced apart rear elongated upright channel members 232 and 234 include third and fourth parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas 236 and 238 respectively adjacent the respective proximal end portions 206 and 210 of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas 202 and 204.

The apparatus 200 further includes an upper rear support 240 on the first and second parallel spaced apart rear elongated upright channel members 232 and 234, the upper rear support 240 comprising first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas 242 and 244 having respective distal end portions 246 and 250 and respective proximal end portions 248 and 252. The first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas 242 and 244 are configured to support at least one sheet of construction material.

The first and second parallel spaced apart rear elongated upright channel members 232 and 234 further include third and fourth parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas 254 and 256 respectively adjacent the respective proximal end portions 248 and 252 of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas 242 and 244. The first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas 242 and 244 are constructed as described above in connection with the first upper front support area 40.

Referring to FIG. 8, the distal end portions, only one of which is shown at 246, of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas, only one of which is shown at 242, are aligned with or behind the proximal end portions, only one of which is shown at 206, of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear portions, only one of which is shown at 202. In this embodiment, the term “behind” means toward a vertical plane 203 intersecting a center of the apparatus.

In FIG. 7, the front and rear upright supports 30 and 230 form first and second parallel, spaced apart A-frame structures 260 and 262. The first front elongated upright channel member 120 and the first rear elongated upright channel member 232 have respective distal end portions 264 and 266 which are connected together to form a first vertex 267. The first front elongated upright channel member 120 and the first rear elongated upright channel member 232 also have respective base portions 268 and 270 respectively which are connected to the front and rear portions 216 and 218 respectively of the first elongated base channel member 212. The respective base portions 268 and 270 of the first front elongated upright channel member 120 and the first rear elongated upright channel member 232 are thus connected to the first elongated base channel member 212 in spaced apart relation with the intermediate portion 220 of the first elongated base channel member extending therebetween.

Similarly, the second front elongated upright channel member 122 and the second rear elongated upright channel member 234 have distal end portions 272 and 274 respectively which are connected together to form a second vertex 275. The second front elongated upright channel member 122 and second rear elongated upright channel member 234 also have respective base portions 276 and 278 connected to the second elongated base channel member 214 in spaced apart relation such that the intermediate portion 220 of the elongated base channel extends therebetween. A tongue portion and angled sidewall arrangement similar to that described above and shown in FIG. 5 is used to mate the respective base portions 268 and 270, and 276 and 278 respectively to corresponding portions of the first and second elongated base channel members 212 and 214 respectively.

Referring back to FIG. 7, in the embodiment shown, the apparatus 200 further includes front and rear lower crossmembers 280 and 282 connected between the first and second front elongated upright channel members 120 and 122 and the first and second rear elongated upright channel members 232 and 234 respectively. The front and rear lower crossmembers 280 and 282 are disposed slightly above the first and second elongated base channel members 212 and 214 respectively.

The apparatus 200 further includes front and rear upper crossmembers 284 and 286 respectively connected to the first and second front elongated upright channel members 120 and 122 and to the first and second rear elongated upright channel members 232 and 234 respectively. The front and rear lower and upper crossmembers 280, 282, 284 and 286 hold the first and second parallel, spaced apart A-frame structures 260 and 262 in parallel spaced apart relation.

The apparatus 200 further includes at least one spacer such as shown at 290 and 292 on each of the first and second parallel, spaced apart A-frame structures 260 and 262 to help maintain angular spacing between the first front and first rear elongated upright channel members 120 and 232 and between the second front and second rear elongated upright channel members 122 and 234 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 9, the apparatus 200 provides front upper and lower display areas 300 and 302 and rear upper and lower display areas 304 and 306 to allow respective sheets of construction sheet material 308, 310, 312 and 314 to be stored on both sides of the apparatus in upper and lower configurations to facilitate space saving storage and display of construction sheet material such as granite.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, due to aligning or positioning the respective distal end portions of upper front and rear support areas behind the proximal end portions of the corresponding lower support areas, the apparatus 200 resists tipping regardless of loading and permits easy manipulation of construction sheet material with a crane, for example, for storage and retrieval of construction sheet material on the apparatus.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims. 

1. An apparatus for supporting and displaying construction sheet material, the apparatus comprising: a base having first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas having distal and proximal end portions respectively, the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas being configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material; a front upright support connected to the base to extend rearwardly at an angle to the base, the front upright support having: third and fourth parallel spaced apart lower front support areas adjacent the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas; an upper front support having first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas having distal and proximal end portions respectively, the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas being configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material; and third and fourth parallel spaced apart upper front support areas adjacent the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas; wherein the distal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas are aligned with or behind the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas are vertically aligned with or behind the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas are generally parallel to the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising first and second lower front cushions on the first and second parallel spaced apart lower front support areas respectively.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and second lower front cushions include first and second lower front wood members respectively.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the base comprises first and second lower front elongated parallel spaced apart channel members each having respective parallel spaced apart sidewalls and a web extending between the sidewalls defining respective channels, the first and second lower front cushions being in corresponding ones of the respective channels and having portions extending out of the respective channels to prevent construction sheet material placed on the cushions from touching the sidewalls of the respective channels,
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising first and second upper front cushions on the first and second parallel spaced apart upper front support areas respectively.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first and second upper front cushions include first and second upper front wood members respectively.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the upper front support comprises first and second upper front elongated parallel spaced apart channel members each having respective parallel spaced apart sidewalls and a web extending between the sidewalls defining respective channels, the third and fourth upper front cushions being in corresponding ones of the respective channels and having portions extending out of the respective channels to prevent construction sheet material placed on the cushions from touching the sidewalls of the respective channels.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas having distal and proximal end portions respectively, the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas being configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a rear upright support connected to the base to extend frontwardly at an angle to the base, the rear upright support having: third and fourth parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas adjacent the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas; an upper rear support having first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas having distal and proximal end: portions respectively the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas being configured to support at least one sheet of construction sheet material; and wherein the distal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas are aligned with or in front of the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the front and rear upright supports have upper ends connected together to form a vertex.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the distal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas are vertically aligned with or in front of the proximal end portions of the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas are generally parallel to the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising first and second lower rear cushions on the first and second parallel spaced apart lower rear support areas respectively.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first and second lower rear cushions include first and second lower rear wood members respectively.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the base comprises first and second lower rear elongated parallel spaced apart channel members each having respective parallel spaced apart sidewalls and a web extending between the sidewalls defining respective channels, the first and second lower rear cushions being in corresponding ones of the respective channels and having portions extending out of the respective channels to prevent sheet material placed on the cushions from touching the sidewalls of the respective channels.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising first and second upper rear cushions on the first and second parallel spaced apart upper rear support areas respectively.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first and second upper rear cushions include first and second upper rear wood members respectively.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the upper rear support comprises first and second upper rear elongated parallel spaced apart channel members each having respective parallel spaced apart sidewalls and a web extending between the sidewalls defining respective channels, the first and second upper rear cushions being in corresponding ones of the respective channels and having portions extending out of the respective channels to prevent construction sheet material placed on the cushions from touching the sidewalls of the respective channels,
 21. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the base comprises first and second parallel spaced apart elongated base members.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the front and rear upright supports comprise first and second spaced apart A-frame structures connected to the first and second parallel spaced apart elongated base members respectively and wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one cross member connecting the first and second spaced apart A-frame structures together.
 23. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the base comprises first and second elongated parallel members.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first and second elongated parallel members include first and second lengths of metal channel respectively.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the upper front support comprises third and fourth elongated parallel members.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the third and fourth elongated parallel members include third and fourth lengths of metal channel respectively. 